"We are playing a very significant part. I certainly think that this latest atrocity, on top of other recent atrocities, does indicate that we do need to do more to tackle this ... at its source in Syria and Iraq," he told Channel 10 on Sunday.

He would not be drawn on whether he wanted to see Australian ground troops deployed to the region.

The comments come after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who rolled Abbott for the prime ministership in September, said earlier today there could be role for Australian troops as part of any potential peacekeeping mission in Syria.

"Well, there could be," Turnbull said.

"The critical thing is achieving some degree of common purpose between the various parties in Syria. It's a very, very complex part of the world.

"The most effective boots on the ground are going to be Syrian boots on the ground."

Abbott's latest public comments follow a high-profile UK lecture he delivered in October in which he urged European lawmakers to secure their borders.